ZIP code
54656
in Sparta, WisconsinPopulation 18,160
50.52/ 100
Ranked #15,527 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #545 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.22 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.6%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.34%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Obesity
44.3%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Sparta, Wisconsin (ZIP 54656) ranks in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,527th) and the bottom 29% of Wisconsin (545th).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Elder services registers in the top 6.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled expected annual loss is in the top 4.4% nationally, slow internet speeds stands in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled nitrate settles in the top 7.6% nationally. Modeled obesity lies in the top 5.6% nationally, and disaster risk resides in the top 9.3% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 54614, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.0 ± 1.3 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.6 years — 3.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,771 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
54614
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 56.12
Closest healthier
54619
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 51.43
Similar health profile
16214
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 50.06
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 30.5% | 27.3–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 31.5–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.3% | 21.7–28.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 31.7–39.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.3% | 37.3–51.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 9.0–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.8–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.2% | 73.6–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.4–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 61.9–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.1% | 59.6–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.2–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.3–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.7% | 14.5–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.7% | 27.3–36.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 26.3–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 29.2–37.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.8% | 17.8–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.8–16.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–17.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.4–35.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 57.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 17.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 39.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $72,379 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $214,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $938 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $914 ($696–$1,261) n=706 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.0 yr ± 0.65 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.4 yr (77.7–83.6) n=712 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.65 years of 78.0, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured